Who Needs Oxygen Therapy?

More people than you think, so you are not alone. Anyone who suffers from a heart or lung condition which prevents suffcient oxygen getting to the tissues of the body, requires home oxygen therapy.

This can be from pre-term babies to people with occupational diseases, and the elderly.

The oxygen is prescribed to treat the condition chronic hypoxia (low blood and tissue oxygen levels). This can be caused by a number of conditions of the lung and heart such as:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic bronchitis

Emphysema

Severe asthma

Interstitial lung disease such as fibrosing alveolitis and asbestosis

Cystic Fibrosis

Pulmonary hypertension

Oxygen may also be prescribed to treat a group of patients who will require oxygen for palliative care or for short burst needs.

You may also have heard the term LTOT (Long Term Oxygen Therapy) being referred to when talking about home oxygen therapy.

LTOT is the long term use of extra oxygen by patients who have lower than normal levels of oxygen in their blood. It is usually prescribed for more than 15 hours per day.

Due to the nature of the disease causing the low oxygen levels, LTOT is likely to be needed on a permanent basis.

If your oxygen levels decrease during exercise, you may also be prescribed an ambulatory source of oxygen. This will help relieve your breathlessness and encourage you to carry on with a normal life outside the home.